We are Heroes CHAPTER 29
Annabeth looked around the campfire it had been a week since the fight, in that time the Romans returned to New Rome. Those that were injured are healing, those that died had been honoured and plans for new shrines were in the works. Jason, Piper, Frank and Hazel were sitting around the fire amongst Greeks and Romans. Reyna and Frank have been working on a treaty with the Council and Chiron. Percy was sitting next to her, since the fight was over the others seemed to look at them differently they have barely been apart. What they went through down there still too fresh on their minds that nether one would talk about it to anyone else. The gods were giving them some time to rest and recover although Chiron did tell them that they were planning a council soon on what he did not say only that their presence was requested.
"You're still thinking about her." Percy whispered gaining her attention some of the Apollo kids were in the middle of a ballard.
"Its been a week and nothing. How hard is it to send a message saying that your fine? I have so many questions."
"Just like the mortals…how did you know that the vile would do that anyway?" Percy asked once Sam had disappeared the Mortals had so many questions but Chiron managed to convince them that it would be best to let them rest for now. Annabeth had placed the vile that Sam had given her at the base of the Athena Parthenos and the barrier seemed to be reinforced, Mortals no longer could see their camp.
"I was told." Annabeth stated
"Sam didn't…"
"Not by Sam."
"Oh." Percy went quiet he was still sure that Athena did not like him and did not approve of his relationship with Annabeth. She ended up gripping his hand it being clear she was telling him not to worry about that.
"What do you think the mortals will do if we leave camp?" Hazel asked she was sitting next to Frank it was obvious she was listening to them as was the others closes to them.
"I don't know, I mean Sam…" Annabeth stopped Sam had told them not to worry about it then she disappeared. What were they meant to do?
"You never did get to explain who Sam was." Frank stated this made Annabeth sigh
"Her story is complicated and even we don't know the extent of it. She is immortal and is tied to my mother, she is a daughter of Apollo and has been around since Archaic Times." Annabeth stated
"But she is no goddess. What she said…What that boy said?" Hazel began losing her voice as they thought back to that fight. This is what had been weighing on Annabeth's mind, what Sam had said, she knew she was speaking the truth but still.
"Forgotten? But we still remember her." Frank stated both Piper and Jason had been briefed on what they had missed after they had stopped Gaia.
"Chiron?" Percy asked Chiron who had been silently listening to them he sighed crossing his arms.
"Anna's story is complicated." He stated
"That is what you always say." Percy pointed out
"She is cursed Percy, her connection to Athena it was meant to be a curse. Why do you think there is no mention of her throughout history? When you first heard about her neither of you believed it because neither of you had heard of a companion to Athena."
"But history does remember her through Romeo and Juliet." Annabeth pointed out
"Did you think when you heard the story that it was a demigod?"
"She said she told William this story."
"William Shakespeare?" Jason asked he was still finding it difficult to believe that she was Juliet from the play.
"Son of Apollo." Annabeth informed him.
"The story was based on her before that time. You are not the first demigods she has helped, she grew fond of him and his way with words. She protected him from monsters allowing him to write as he liked."
"So William got the credit?" Percy asked this reminded him of Zoe and Hercules.
"At first she was not happy, but then she realised this way his name would live on." Chiron replied "There are times when a memory of her is kept living on through legends and stories. During the Roman era she went as the Centurion, the first Centurion."
"No way." Jason was now sitting up the first Centurion had two name that or the lone centurion it was said that in times of great trouble the Lone Centurion would appear and aid the Emperor at the time. Legend even had the Centurion was at the side of Augustus the first Roman Emperor after the death of Julius Caesar.
"Even before Rome was built she helped others, as I recall she rode alongside Alexander III of Macedon." Chiron stated rubbing his chin
"Alexander the Great? She knew Alexander the Great?" Annabeth asked
"He was a king."
"She has known many kings, but none grabbed her attention like him. Then again it could have been Athena's influence…I have said too much." Chiron stopped himself looking at those faces around him making him sigh again.
"You know if you want to know more about someone's past is it not polite to ask them?" Sam stated standing in the shadows making Annabeth and Percy to spin around.
"Sam?"
"The one and only." Sam smiled "Elizabeth and I tried the switch places once…that failed, when your friends with a goddess not much gets past her." Sam added as an afterthought.
"Anna." Chiron greeted but it was clear he was asking why she was there.
"Right why I am here? Simple really I am here for her." Sam said pointing to Annabeth, "Relax Perseus you can come too." Sam stated when she saw Percy tense.
"Where are we going?" Annabeth asked
"You wanted answers didn't you?" Sam asked back
"You're going to answer our questions…no more that's complicated?" Percy asked
"Why not?" Sam stated waving her hands out that was when Annabeth saw it, in her eyes she was upset.
"Give us answers only for us to forget?" Annabeth figured out this had Percy, Hazel, Piper, Frank and Jason tense.
"Your mothers champion." Sam smiled but this one did not reach her eyes, this smile looked sad.
"Why do we have to forget?" Percy asked
"That is the way it is, I intervened in a historic moment not that you will remember. Its just…the way it is." Sam stated but she sounded off now.
"But?"
"It is a curse Percy."
"You said, that about Aphrodite's curse."
"Cursed three times, not that I hold a grudge…I have accepted my fate."
"Three times what's your other one?" Percy asked
"I would rather not talk about that one. I do not like to think about that one. Let's go to the beach."
"Seriously?" Percy asked thinking if these two were ones she talked about the third must be worse.
"Yes, I will even let you ask three questions each." Sam stated "not about my third curse." She added stopping Percy from opening his mouth. Frank, Hazel, Jason, Piper, Nico, Will and Reyna ended up joining them.
"You all did amazing, I know that they are proud of you going up against a primordial being and aliens. They are proud, not that they would ever tell you. Just thought you should know." Sam stated sitting on the beach as the silence dragged on.
"Us? You were amazing Sam, what happened to Tybalt?"
"The council, let's just say they were not happy with what he had said…normally they would never interfere with the curse and all but something had to be done. Its been a long time since they had been shown that kind of disrespect. He won't bother me for a while." Sam stated
"What about your curse does that mean it is broken." Annabeth asked at this Sam pulled her legs up to her chest shaking her head.
"No, it is still active. It is taking everything in me not to go straight to him right now."
"Then will he?" Percy left the sentence hanging
"Die? Not if I can help it." Sam stated
"What you said on the hill, when you were fighting him. Was that true?" Hazel asked
"Yes."
"Even the part you said you were not a hero? Because from what I saw you are a hero, if what Chiron said is true Centurion then you are a hero." Reyna stated
"I am not a hero." Sam replied
"You keep saying you are not a hero, but you have done heroic deeds, more than any of us here." Annabeth pointed out
"You want me to say I am a hero, that I have helped save the world multiple times, slayed monsters, rescued mortals and demigods alike? Fine I have done these things but I am still not a hero."
"How does this not make you a hero?" Annabeth asked
"Annabeth I have no soul, my soul burned up long ago, I die and die again but I keep coming back. I am no goddess and I am no mortal I simply, just… exist. Do you know the only thing that makes me different from him and monsters in general? Is my faith in them, my faith in hope and life itself. That yes there is bad things in this world, but we fight for all the good, for the future. Because without the gods the future is bleak and miserable, without the gods humanity will fall and life will wither."
"You think that makes you not a hero? That is the very definition of a hero. You do all that good for no reward, its selfless. You think yourself along the same as monsters…monsters who like pain and torture and hate. That is not you, what do you think a soul is?"
"The essence of your being that makes you human. When you die your soul moves on to the next where it can find peace."
"Your immortal what is death to you." Jason asked not seeing her issue
"I will simply stop existing. No one remembers, no one mourns, no afterlife." Sam stated at this Annabeth understood what she was saying or what she wasn't saying. How she really feels on being forgotten. It took Percy a while longer and a few nudges from Annabeth before he finally clicked. The others didn't really know Sam so remained quiet after what she had said.
"Can't you complain? Ask them not to? Do anything to stop it?" Percy asked
"What go to the council and throw a tantrum? It doesn't work that way Percy."
"Surely you could ask for a favour?" Percy asked
"The price would be too high."
"Do you not collect favours?" Jason asked if he was immortal and only the gods themselves knew what he had accomplished he would collect favours.
"No." Sam replied after a hesitation, "I have no more." Sam stated
"But what if we don't want to forget?" Percy asked
"You don't get an option."
"That's not fair." Piper stated
"You won't remember so that is not a problem." Sam pointed out.
"You said your curse is still active than won't Pietro?"
"He won't be a problem."
"What is that supposed to mean? You said he won't die if you can help it."
"He won't…I just came to say goodbye."
"Sam, if we forget can you come back and make friends with us again? It can be under a different name…you could stay at camp."
"The gods won't like me staying here."
"Then you could stay in New Rome." Said Hazel looking over at Frank and Reyna who both nodded
"Lupa still has not forgiven me from last time, me staying there would not be wise." Sam replied this grabbed everyones attention.
"What happened last time?" Nico asked
"Have you ever wondered why in the middle of the Senate buildings floor curves slightly in? yeah that was me I landed through the roof made a small crater, they could fix the roof and resurface the floor but without taking the whole floor up its never been the same." Sam replied causing a silence to fall over them
"You must have so many stories to share." Piper stated
"I write them all down, Annabeth you have actually seen some of my work."
"I have?" Annabeth asked
"Up in Olympus, you worked in her library that east wall is mine."
"That was floor to ceiling."
"That was only one of her libraires. Not to mention her catacombs…I shouldn't have mention that."
"Wait Annabeth has been to Olympus?" Hazel asked
"I spent my summer there after the titan war." Annabeth stated
"Made her mother very proud too, you're going to go far." Sam smiled but again Annabeth could read between the lines.
"Can you guys give us a minute?" Annabeth asked her friends
"What?" Jason asked he was wanting to ask her about the Centurion legends but one tug from Piper had him getting up they all shared a look before leaving Percy and Annabeth on the beach with Sam.
"Sam why are you really here?"
"I wasn't expecting your friends to join us, I came to check on you both really…before it happens I need to know that you will be alright."
"We're fine." Percy stated not understanding her
"About what happened down there." Sam replied at this both Annabeth and Percy tensed
"Neither of you have been sleeping well. You barely eat and jump at shadows."
"I'm guessing the same is with you, you were there longer after all." Percy stated but instantly regretted it seeing how Sam tensed and her eyes seemed to glaze of. "I'm sorry I didn't mean…"
"Its fine Percy, you're right I was there for six months at the hands of monsters. I was tortured and killed over and over."
"Yeah 159 times."
"You heard that."
"You were shouting it." Annabeth stated
"What I went through will haunt me for a very long time, what they did… my body could not cover it up." Sam stated pulling her top up to reveal many scars across her skin.
"It healed you though." Annabeth stated
"A place like that leaves scars, these I do not mind. Scars deeper will take time to heal."
"Your relationship with my mother… Sam I felt your anger when you unleashed her wrath. But it was not just her wrath it was yours."
"When your mother healed me back at the compound her power overpowered my dna so to speak, right now I am more connected to her than my father. I carry none of his traits at this moment, why I fought better with a spear than the bow."
"You still hit your mark." Annabeth pointed out
"From years of experience. When I hear music? I can no longer feel it. It is just noise. My sword I can no longer summon as it was a gift from my father. My limited healing ability is also gone."
"after we escaped you…"
"I gave you some of my energy, that was not me healing you. Although I did with Pietro which was weird. Have you ever had an outer body experience? No of course not but that's what it felt like when I saved him well that and rage but I would rather not think about that."
"Sam what are you talking about?" Annabeth asked
"I am getting off topic, sorry been lost in my head for a while now take some getting used to being back. What I came to tell you is don't bottle it up, don't push it down you don't have to do it today but you should really talk to someone or each other. You went through the same thing, something not a lot can say they could even dream of what its like down there. I umm…don't think I thanked you for getting me out…I don't know how I will repay you." There was a slight tremble in her voice as she spoke. "I know it won't repay you, but you should know both Poseidon and Athena have agreed."
"Agreed to what?"
"They will tell you themselves at the gathering. Just know…Thanks." Sam stated pulling out a dagger from a sheath on her ankle.
"That dagger… is that the one used when you and…" Annabeth stopped knowing she did not like mentioning his name.
"This dagger has a long and dark history. It's mine, I lost it a while ago but it comes back."
"And your getting it out now because?"
"Enjoy your life, treasure the moment and Percy Annabeth is always right."
"Your leaving just like that?" Percy asked
"There is something I need to do. Romans and Greeks living in peace never would have guessed. Keep making friends, the world is a big place and it just got bigger. Aliens, who would have thought. Safe journeys my friends." Sam stated placing her hand on Annabeth's shoulder and giving her a genuine smile.
"I don't want to forget you." Annabeth stated
"Don't worry, I won't forget you. You have become legends yourselves so who knows." Sam stated pulling her in for a hug, Sam wasn't normally a hugger, but she would admit she had gotten close to Annabeth, even admired her. But this was her life, this is how it always happened, Annabeth would forget her and Sam would move on. But first there was something she needed to do, a promise she had to keep and there was only one way for that promise to be fulfilled. Once she was up on the hill standing at the foot of the statue of Athena she looked down at the dagger she had to see Pietro.